Welcoming in the Māori New Year Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Staff Are Looking Forward to Welcoming in Matariki, Which Begins on 15 June This Year
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Winter 2018 MĀORI HERITAGE Welcoming in the Māori New Year Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga staff are looking forward to welcoming in Matariki, which begins on 15 June this year. The shadow of a tewhatewha (fighting staff) over part of the symbolic restoration of Rangiriri Pā in Waikato. In one tradition, Matariki is the mother surrounded by her six daughters, Tupu-a-nuku, Tupu-a-rangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipuna-a-rangi and Ururangi. (CREDIT: HERITAGE NEW ZEALAND) MATARIKI IS THE Māori name for the cluster According to Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of Traditionally, Matariki reflected on the cycles of of stars known as the Pleiades. For many Māori, New Zealand, Matariki celebrations were life and death, remembering those who had when it rises in mid-winter it signals the beginning revived in 2000 after having stopped at died in the past year and also celebrating food of a new year. Matariki translates to the ‘eyes of some time in the 1940s. Today recognition that had been collected. Singing, dancing and god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). Tradition of Matariki and its meaning has grown in feasting were part of Matariki, as they are today. has it that when Ranginui, the sky father, and popularity and observance, and is seen Today, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were separated as a New Zealand form of thanksgiving. A celebrates Matariki – and all that Māori custom by their children, it angered Tāwhirimātea, the god particular feature of Matariki celebrations and tradition encompasses – in the visionary of the winds, so much that he ripped out his eyes is the flying of kites, with Māori custom and threw them to the heavens. believing they flutter close to the stars. CONTINUED OVER > heritage.org.nz 1 Contents 1 MĀORI HERITAGE 12 CENTRAL REGION Welcoming in the Māori New Year New organisation going strong in Wairarapa 2 CONTENTS 13 CENTRAL REGION 3 EDITORIAL Greater heritage protection Heritage New Zealand Chief sought Executive Andrew Coleman 14/15 NORTHERN REGION A full perspective of part of the symbolic • 4/5 FEATURE INTERVIEW New future for Kopu Bridge Rangiriri Pā. (CREDIT: HERITAGE NEW ZEALAND) Learning on the job each day 16 CENTRAL REGION 6/7 SOUTHERN REGION Society formed to oversee guiding document Tapuwae that has been Hurunui Hotel on mend thanks to Wellington goldfields prepared by the Māori Heritage Council. grant funding Tapuwae contributes to New Zealand’s 17 SOUTHERN REGION developing sense of nationhood that takes 8 SOUTHERN REGION Māori rock art a national treasure pride in its indigenous heritage and associated French connection to Timeball value systems. tower 18 NORTHERN REGION “Māori heritage and history is infused with mana Cook’s tour on the R. Tucker and spirituality that go through generations, 9 CENTRAL REGION Thompson living on through the relationships of people Rangitīkei homestead changes and places,” says Heritage New Zealand Pouhere ownership after 133 years 19 NATIONAL FOCUS Taonga kaihautū, Te Kenehi Teira. Trivia time, heritage style 10/11 NORTHERN REGION “Matariki is an integral, symbolic part of the meaning of tapuwae, which translates to Whāngārei’s archaeological gem 20 SOUTHERN REGION sacred footprint. It is part of New Zealand’s captures imagination of students Virtual tour takes in unique identity.” Christchurch’s hotel archaeology In this new year Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga staff will continue to work with iwi, hapū and whānau to assist them in maintaining and conserving their heritage CORRECTION: places, including built heritage sites and rock In the Autumn 2018 issue we had an incorrect caption in an article on the Akaroa art. This is being achieved through workshop Museum. Our apologies to curator Daniel Smith. training, specialist projects and programme CONTRIBUTORS: advice delivered on marae to assist Māori Jamie Douglas, John O’Hare, David Watt and Rosemary Baird communities as kaitiaki of their heritage. Tapuwae is available to download at heritage.org.nz/resources/tapuwae, and there is a one-page information sheet summarising Members of Heritage New Zealand can visit its the key points in Tapuwae available at properties for free, visit www.heritage.org.nz. our offices in Kerikeri, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. n 2 heritage.org.nz EDITORIAL Persevering through ANDREW COLEMAN the challenging times THE BEST HERITAGE outcomes take THE FOCUS ON BEATING The beloved local bridge is a rare surviving patience, perseverance and an absolute THE CHALLENGES HAS single swing bridge, significant at the time of commitment. I often remind myself of the its construction in the 1920s for opening up wise counsel from Nelson Mandela when he TO BE ON THE PEOPLE, the Hauraki Plains and Thames to increasing proffered, “It always seems impossible until it's EITHER AS INDIVIDUALS road transport and therefore economic done”. The heritage end game is sometimes OR AS PART OF A GROUP development. It is wonderful to see the very difficult and seemingly impossible to OR ORGANISATION. bridge given to the local community who visualise. Pleasingly there are many examples have fought so hard to retain it. NOT ONE OF THE where great heritage things can happen; they Dating back to 1874, ‘Westoe’ in Marton has are the ones where it ‘got done’, where it was EXAMPLES WOULD HAVE had only two owners and it has been because completed and where the vision of heritage PROGRESSED IF IT WAS of their dedication and commitment that was realised. NOT FOR THE PEOPLE. this Category 1 listed property remains. The This edition of Heritage Quarterly has but property includes a large and historically a few of these examples where the best significant garden in which some of the heritage outcome is achieved past the many The owners of the Hurunui Hotel have original 19th century trees still remain. The challenges that confront heritage on a daily recognised its heritage status and have property and garden was once open for tours basis. These examples are all different so the shown commitment to return it to its and it is hoped that it will be again. ‘one-stop’ solution is not applicable and, as a heritage glory. Regional groups such as the recently result, we all need to have the dedication and There are many people and groups with a formed Heritage Wairarapa and those commitment to allow us to persevere. We are focus on Māori rock art. They ensure they are working on the educational partnership blessed in New Zealand with many people identified and then listed. The stories and programme at Mair’s Landing/Tawatawhiti and organisations who genuinely seek the priceless insights into New Zealand’s pre- in Whāngārei are other examples of the best heritage outcomes. European history and early Māori settlement breadth of dedication. The challenges that heritage face can be varied; can now be told. He aha te mea nui o te ao? He from natural disasters like earthquakes, that posed There are many people and organisations tangata, he tangata, he tangata significant challenges for the Category 1 Hurunui that have made the rebuild of the Timeball What is the greatest thing in the Hotel and the Timeball in Lyttelton, and cultural possible. Stonemasonry is a trade that has world? It is people, it is people, it awareness, that on a daily basis exposes risks to had a renaissance in New Zealand and the is people. our Māori rock art sites. It could also be through restoration of buildings and monuments such Indeed it is people and in heritage this is new developments such as the new Kopu Bridge as the Timeball have benefited from this. that left the 1920s original bridge exposed. absolutely true. They have the patience After years of negotiations with the New and the perseverance to work through the The focus on beating the challenges has to Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), the Kopu challenges of heritage. It is to all of these be on the people, either as individuals or as Bridge and Community Trust have been people that we must be eternally grateful.n part of a group or organisation. Not one of the transferred ownership of the historic Kopu examples would have progressed if it was not Bridge outside Thames. The trust has set itself ANDREW COLEMAN for the people. the task of future retention and preservation. CHIEF EXECUTIVE heritage.org.nz 3 FEATURE INTERVIEW Learning on the job each day Based in Heritage New Zealand’s Auckland office, Alexandra Foster is a Heritage Assessment Advisor for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. She is closely involved with researching significant heritage places for inclusion on the New Zealand Heritage List/ Rārangi Kōrero. Here she reflects on heritage with John O’Hare, and what it means to her. How long have you worked for Q: Heritage New Zealand? I first started as a casual administration assistant in Auckland in 2012 and I have been in my current position for two-and-a-half years. I always enjoyed learning about history which I majored in at Auckland University along with psychology before training as a primary school teacher. When I had an opportunity in 2014 to be involved in an inventory project for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga about war memorials I was able to get practical experience in this type of work and I took my next opportunity to follow a career in this field. Why is heritage important to Q: you personally and for the wider community? Heritage provides a tangible link to important events, stories, people and ideas, and conveys information in ways that cannot be captured in a book, for example. My understanding of my family’s personal history in New Zealand has increased as I research and learn about heritage Alexandra Foster in central Auckland.